Daily Mood Quotes - January 23, 2012

Daily Mood Quote
Day 244 – January 23, 2012

“Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is far worse than the suffering itself, and no heart has ever suffered when it's gone in search of its dream.”
~Paulo Coelho from The Alchemist

It's no secret that the past several months have been very difficult for me and my family, 2011 ended with a goodbye and 2012 has begun with a very rough start. The one thing I keep in mind is my husband's saying, “things that start out rough end up great” lately that's been more of a wish than a proven axiom, I have to believe, I just have to believe.

I Ching (hexagram 3) says (I paraphrase), “Difficulty at the beginning works supreme success...” One interpretation is “Times of growth are beset with difficulties. They resemble a first birth. But these difficulties arise from the very profusion of all that is struggling to attain form. Everything is in motion: therefore if one perseveres, there is a prospect of great success, in spite of the existing danger.” Like a plant springing from the soil, and so this year may yet yield great success, but not if I give up and quit (I've got to tell you, I thought about it), so this leads me to my next quote. John F. Kennedy said in his September 1962 Rice Stadium Moon Speech, “If this capsule history of our progress teaches us anything, it is that man, in his quest for knowledge and progress, is determined and cannot be deterred.” Determination is the key, it is the “don't stop,” plow ahead, never stop innovating, never stop adapting, never stop period, mind set that helps us to achieve, individually, together and as a country.

Now, it is my time to achieve, I enjoy writing the Daily Mood Quote, it is who I am. But I must pare back some, because it is time for my Master's capstone project and this project is massive in its size and scope. It requires a lot of hours, interviews, research, analysis and writing to prepare for the presentation to experts in my field of study that will determine my grade and acceptance into the PhD program. Yes, I have decided (that's what I have been doing over the past several days, making a decision) to pursue a PhD in the study of leadership and its principles. The study of leaders and leadership has become a passion of mine, it's a mindset of “can do” and positive perseverance. That said, here's how I plan to manage my time for Daily Mood Quotes; I will post a quote every morning to the daily mood quotes blog, and occasionally some commentary, as time permits, along with a movie reference, if it applies. The commentary and movie quotes won't be everyday, but I'll put them in when I can. It takes a lot of time to make sure they're right. I have not made it a secret how important my education is to me. I believe, education is the cornerstone of success, successful communications and successful relationships. I love learning and my end goal is to someday write books on leadership and teach leadership principles. That goal requires me to buckle down to work and focus right now, not tomorrow.

I want to thank everyone in the 100 plus countries who read daily mood quotes and I hope you will continue to read, while I pursue an even higher education. I'll keep you posted. Have a great day.

Are you achieving your dreams? If not now, then when?

Tune in tomorrow to read the daily mood quote
Thank you for reading

Daily Mood Quotes - January 18, 2012

Daily Mood Quote

Day 243 – January 18, 2012

But just as they did in Philadelphia when they were writing the constitution, sooner or later, you've got to compromise. You've got to start making the compromises that arrive at a consensus and move the country forward.

~Colin Powell

Albert Einstein said, “In a healthy nation there is a kind of dramatic balance between the will of the people and the government, which prevents its degeneration into tyranny.” What do we consider to be a healthy nation today? Last night on the CBS Evening News with Scott Pelley, I listened to a story about a Philadelphia area school district that did not have enough money to make it to the end of the school year. The State Department of Education has promised enough money to make payroll for a month. Then they are right back in the same situation. My husband has a favorite saying for this kind of behavior that is becoming an epidemic, “it's a band-aid on a bullet wound!” and if they are willing to “bail” on one school district, how many others will follow? Also, this position sets precedence and exposes the fundamental problem with the “No Child Left Behind Act.” It takes the most money from the districts that need it most. So, instead of leaving one child behind, thousands are being left behind; about 6000 in this particular case... Brilliant!

So, "now to the crux of the biscuit." Why are school districts underfunded? It's really simple, we have abandoned the fundamental premise that our children come first, always. Partisan politics, “what's in it for me” legislation, the fundamental neglect of the very basics of society, have left us crumbling roads, falling bridges and non-competitive and dilapidated schools; who may have tremendous athletic programs, but no money for arts, math and sciences. What's wrong with this picture? There is no easy answer and I'll admit that: It's all wrapped up in a big messy ball of entitlements, tax loop holes, abatements, and a struggling economy. There is not one clear string you can hold onto that isn't connected to something else. Now, it is kind of like a game of pick-up sticks, you can't move one without affecting another. A house doesn’t crumble in a day, it comes apart with time and neglect and that is what we have done to our children's future. While the past two generations enjoyed credit fueled vacations at Disney World and gorged on cheap imported goods, we have let our house, the place where our children spend there time attempting to learn and grow, fall apart board by board member. We only have ourselves to blame for this. Politicians may rattle on about how our government's budget overages will be paid for by our children, while continuing to approve wasteful self-serving projects, congressional junkets and pork barrels; none of which have anything to do with educating our future generations. Then we let them give themselves raises, again and again and again! To quote the cartoon Pogo “I have seen the enemy and he is us.” A generation that has had the advantage of higher education, forged on the sweat of a determined post-depression generation, has chosen to not pass the torch of American ingenuity and community centered drive to our children; but to leave that flame to flicker and die in a heap of Happy Meal boxes and video games.

I realize that it's hard to put down our own self interests of low taxes and easy patches, that don't solve the problems just cover them up; to turn a blind eye to the future of our nation and hope that some new technology will suddenly “pop up” and fix everything. It won't; especially if we aren't putting in a real effort to “teach our children well” (Thanks Crosby Stills, Nash and Young). Its hard to say; yes I'll put down the remote and think before I vote. It's hard to spend time researching our representative's activities, wade through the rhetoric and attack ads, and let them know we disapprove. It's hard to stand up and say “No more!” (thanks Jim Belushi from The Principal). But, as the late John F. Kennedy, in a voice that powered America into space and helped create all the great innovations we now accept as normal, once said. “...not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win...” Have we forgotten so soon? None of our best future happens without educating our young people, for they will become what we show them today. Tune in tomorrow for “the rest of the story” (a special thanks and “tip of the hat” to the late Paul Harvey).

How will you view “tomorrow” today?

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Thank you for reading

Daily Mood Quote - August 11, 2011

 

Daily Mood Quotes

Day 100 – August 11, 2011

“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”

~John F. Kennedy

Allow me to apologize for the delay in the blog today. My husband says, “technology fails us when we need it most” and that's what happened this morning, we had a minor equipment malfunction and it took some time to figure it out. It seems that the dog Chester slept under the desk last night and caused a few disconnections, leave it to our goofy rabbit chasing, wind barker Chester...

Today, Daily Mood Quotes blog is 100 days in the making and when I started this blog on May 5, 2011, I never imagined I would have received so many positive and thought provoking responses from so many people around the world. Your input has been both a blessing and an eye opener. I want to say “thank you” to everyone who reads the Daily Mood Quotes blog regularly, I really appreciate it.

Someone asked me, “why do you post quotes?” When I was a little girl, I would often read a quote in a book that would make me think, or turn a bad day into a good day, even give me a reason to smile. It helped me hold onto a better tomorrow or at least believe that there was a better tomorrow. It worked then and it still works for me today. I find quotes very uplifting and thought provoking and sometimes in life a good quote can be very applicable.

I received an e-mail a couple of months ago asking me, “Do you have a favorite quote?' I don't, I have several favorite authors, but no one favorite quote, although Eleanor Roosevelt's quote, “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” is a very strong contender. I believe that this is a very powerful concept, because it talks about responsibility and consequence. As individuals, we can only control a very, very small part of all the things that are going on around us in our lives. The one thing we have the greatest control over, is our actions and our reactions. We have the responsibility to guard our personal dignity; no one can do that for us. It isn't about if someone else respects you or not. It is about whether or not you respect yourself. The consequence of not guarding your personal dignity is that you surrender control of the one thing, regardless of circumstance, makes the difference between living the life you can be proud of, or one you may not be so proud of. Guard your dignity well, it is one of your most precious gifts.

Again, I would like to thank all of my readers, from around the world, for their time and input. I have been asked to continue the blog and so as Westley aka. the Dread Pirate Roberts (Cary Elwes) said to Princess Buttercup (Robin Wright) in The Princess Bride...”As you wish.” Have a great 100^th day! Thank you.

How will you guard your personal dignity today?

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Thank you for reading

Daily Mood Quote - June 13, 2011

Daily Mood Quote

Day 40 – June 13, 2011

Whenever you are asked if you can do a job, tell 'em, "Certainly, I can!" Then get busy and find out how to do it.

~Theodore Roosevelt

This seems to be a missing theme in today's world. To a large degree you need a “can do” attitude. Everything changes so fast and to stay afloat people need to keep changing just as fast. Sometimes that means committing to something before you know how to do it. This may sound contra-productive and out of vogue, but isn't that exactly how we got to the moon? We committed a nation to getting there and then figured out how to do it. John F. Kennedy said, “We choose to go to the moon. We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win, and the others, too.” That was a goal for a nation, to put a man on the moon and bring him home safely. It wasn't easy and it took many to say “yes” or “certainly, I can,” or at least “I don't know, but I will figure it out.”

I can remember a time when people accepted challenges, individually, as a group, a committee, a Nation, but now it seems as if we don't want the responsibility if something fails. So, we shrug our shoulders, point the finger and let someone else take on the challenges. My husband asks, “Where have our balls gone?” Funny thing, our goofy dog Chester heard the word “ball” and brought the play ball (one thing he hasn't managed to destroy) to my husband. Chester said “yes” by bringing the ball and got to play a little bit. But in life, in the job market and in day-to-day living, the balls seem to have left the building, because many just don't take chances anymore. It seems we're afraid to hire the best people... because they may leave? We're afraid to hire an older, experienced, educated person, because they might know a bit more than the boss, really? What's wrong with that picture... you think you would want the best person? There is a difference between a “yes, man” and a “yes, I can man.” Can you tell the difference?

In the movie Yes, Man, an average guy named Carl (played by Jim Carey) made the statement, “The era of "yes" has begun,” and thereby changed his life.

How will you say “yes” to life this week?

Tune in tomorrow to read the daily mood quote

Thank you for reading

Daily Mood Quote - May 17, 2011

Daily Mood Quote

Day Thirteen – May 17, 2011

Be not afraid of greatness: some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.
~William Shakespeare

Greatness is in everyone of us. It is the everyday Mom who listens to her children when there is a problem or question; the Dad who helps with the tough homework, the sibling or friend, who takes the time to compliment. Its the boss who says, "thank you." Its in the stranger who shares a smile, or holds a door open. You don't need to be a famous name, known worldwide, to be great. You don't need to hold a nationally known title to be considered great. Each of us “ordinary people” possess the greatness to positively affect someones life everyday.

In the movie “Mr Holland's Opus,” Mr. Holland (played by Richard Dreyfuss) was an ordinary person, who sought fame and riches through his music.  Instead he found greatness in his little town, by being the music teacher at John F. Kennedy High School. Gertrude Lang (played by Alicia Witt) former student and governor said this:

“Mr. Holland had a profound influence on my life and on a lot of lives I know. But I have a feeling that he considers a great part of his own life misspent. Rumor had it he was always working on this symphony of his. And this was going to make him famous, rich, probably both. But Mr. Holland isn't rich and he isn't famous, at least not outside of our little town. So it might be easy for him to think himself a failure. But he would be wrong, because I think that he's achieved a success far beyond riches and fame. Look around you. There is not a life in this room that you have not touched, and each of us is a better person because of you. We are your symphony Mr. Holland. We are the melodies and the notes of your opus. We are the music of your life.”

Greatness is built one kind act, on top of one caring act, on top of one thoughtful act... We can all be great if we take it one simple outreach at a time.

How will you be great today?

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